Letter: Trump, Vance lies cause real harm
Donald Trump falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants are eating our pets. He isn't alone; vice presidential candidate JD Vance posted the same baseless claim on X (formerly called Twitter).
The two highest officials of a major political party are amplifying an unfounded Facebook rumor without bothering to fact-check.
When it was proven false, did they apologize? Did they issue a retraction?
No. Donald Trump repeated these lies on the campaign trail, and JD Vance, when confronted about the falsehoods, defended his actions, saying the story was meant to highlight the town's problems.
Haitian immigrants are here under Temporary Protected Status, granted for humanitarian reasons. They go through a rigorous process to come here legally. Many are valued members of the community, with church leaders and employers coming to their defense.
But the leaders of the Republican Party have started a dangerous game of "us versus them." They've tapped into the worst of us, exploiting harmful stereotypes and fear of the unfamiliar to scare citizens into voting for them.
This political game has already caused real harm to the residents of Springfield, Ohio. Since these claims emerged, the local college has had to switch to virtual classes, and two elementary schools were evacuated. Two hospitals temporarily closed — all due to bomb threats and, in one case, a campus shooting threat specifically targeting members of the Haitian community.
All because of a lie.
Rachael Montgomery, Mackinaw
